10 Tips for Your New Car

There’s nothing like a new car – the dazzling shine, the new-car smell, the awesome sound system as you cruise to your favorite tunes. Could it get any better? Actually, it can!

Drive Off With 10% Off

COUNTRY Financial® offers a number of auto discounts to help you keep the cost to insure your new vehicle down, including a New-Vehicle Discount. If you purchase a new-model-year car or truck, you could qualify for up to a 10% discount off your insurance.

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While I can help you protect it, there are plenty of other things to consider when it comes your vehicle, too. Here are some tips to consider:

The Way To Roll. Want to save on gas? Then back off the gas pedal. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 costs you approximately 24 cents per gallon of gas.And be sure to keep your load light. For every 100 pounds in your vehicle, you reduce your miles per gallon by up to two percent. Another way to improve your gas mileage is by keeping your tires properly inflated. That can save you up to 3.3 percent on your fuel consumption.1

Go For Quality. When it’s time to change the oil, go for a good-quality oil. Synthetic or standard oil treated with a friction-reducing additive can improve your fuel economy by up to 12%.2

Do The Tighten Up. Gas evaporates out of your tank if the gas cap isn’t tightened properly. According to the Car Care Council, loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate every year.

Wax On. Wax Off. Waxing, of course, keeps your car shiny, but it also helps protect the finish over time from dirt, salt, and plain old sunlight, and that can extend the life of your car. Sure, waxing is a lot of work, but think of the muscles you’ll build!

Keep on Chillin’. If you live in a cool climate, occasionally run your air conditioner during winter months – about ten minutes a month during cooler weather circulates the refrigerant, which helps keep the seals soft and the compressor properly lubricated.3

Low Rider. If you feel a need for speed, try lowering your seat. Why? Because when you’re at a high eye height, you tend to drive faster than when at a low eye height.4

It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll. You probably have your favorite driving playlist, but take note – higher musical beats per minute often mean higher miles per hour.5 Music psychologist Dr. Warren Brodsky found that, as the tempo of music increased, so did a few other driving-related events – in addition to driving speed, there were more incidents of weaving, ignoring red lights, and not surprisingly, accidents. Something to keep in mind since the “Rolling Stones Defense” probably won’t get you out of a ticket.

Happy Wheels. Since much of the wear and tear on your engine happens during the first minutes of driving, consolidating trips can help increase your vehicle’s engine life. The bonus – Mother Nature will thank you too, because most pollutants are generated during those first few minutes as well.6

On-The-Road Rx. If you or one of your passengers is prone to motion sickness, there’s an easy remedy that works for many: Ginger. Motion sickness occurs when the body, inner ear, and eyes send conflicting signals to the brain. Ginger can help ease some of the discomfort caused by this event. You can get a dose of ginger as an herbal supplement, in crystallized form that melts in your mouth, ginger tea, ginger ale, and gingersnap cookies.7

Be Careful Out There. You, of course, are far more valuable than your vehicle. That being the case, please practice safe driving. A big concern these days is cell phone use while driving, and with good reason. Drivers who use cell phones while behind the wheel are four times more likely to be in a crash8. Remember: Your car can be replaced. You cannot.

Count on COUNTRY

Your auto insurance is one part of your overall financial security picture. I’d like to help you put all the pieces together. Contact me today to find out how COUNTRY can help you achieve financial security, no matter where you’re starting from.

1U.S. Dept of Energy. Fuel cost savings based on an assumed fuel price of $3.52 per gallon.2gassaver.org3edumunds.com4Transportation Research Board, 20055Dr. Warren Brodsky, American Associates Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.6University of North Carolina7Wikipedia8The National Safety Council, April 2009